She’s talented and deserves better, but I also think she needs some stronger songs with proper hooks. It’s the only way to solidify an audience.
Honestly, I do think she needs to get on with it, but I wouldn't want to minimize the ~artistic journey~ it takes to create 10-12 tracks.
Brighter Dawn is lovely. It looks like she'll be playing with an 80s version of her sound for this new album but I really wouldn't mind if she delivered something very similar to The Dreaming Room like this. She's in LA finishing up the album so hopefully it'll be out this year.
I've been revisiting her albums in the past few days and god, what a catalogue she has already! She has to be one of the most underrated artists. I hope Atlantic push her in the US because there's likely way more of a market for her there.
Looks like she still deals with crippling anxiety, my hat goes off to her for pushing through. Album is almost done by the sounds of it! It looks like Dann Hume is the main collaborator, at least for these latest sessions. I looked him up and he's mostly worked with Australian musicians (Troye Sivan, Tina Arena, Amy Shark, Tkay Maidza). No-one jumps out as having similar music to Laura from my knowledge, so it will be interesting to see what comes of this.
God I hope so. Phenomenal Woman came on my Spotify last month, and I thought, who is this? I’d never heard of Laura Mvula before. Since then, I’ve taken a magical journey through her discography. She is amazing and she’s exactly what I didn’t know I needed right now. Officially obsessed.
I just listened to The Dreaming Room for the first time in yonks...god, what an album - one of the last decade's best. Had to straighten my wig a bit after listening to the song in that Instagram post and seeing the sheer delight on her face - very exciting!
Comedian James Acaster has a new podcast where he tries to prove that 2016 was the greatest year in music and the latest episode is dedicated to The Dreaming Room: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08dskkw It's a brillaint short listen, he and his guest are real fans of the record and discuss it in depth. I wasn't expecting to see this album on his list so imagine my surprise, the taste jumped out! Love the fact that at the end of the episode his guest shouts out Laura Marling as someone who people should also give attention to - couldn't agree more! The sheer amount of talent both Lauras exhibit is insane.
A flurry of social media activity + an Instagram story saying 'Last song?' would suggest the album is basically done. She's archived all Instagram posts except a snippet from a few months ago.
She confirmed the album is out in 2021 on Instagram - a given at this point but at least we have some concrete information! Still seems to be finishing up but they've recorded the live instruments so things must be really almost done. The label were very positive about the album apparently.
This album will bring together all the threads of joy and resistance and whimsy and memory present in her work so far and tighten them up with exceptional execution to be one of the most capital I Important albums next year. I plant this seed.
The snippets she's been posted have been serving big 80s power bops with a hint of Talking Heads/Kate Bush. I'm exceptionally perched.
